Hydracushion boat

ABSTRACT

A water craft comprising a boat for small travel in rough water, the boat incorporating fiberglas springs for absorbing the impact of wave action, the fiberglass springs being directly attached at one end to a float and the other end to a main subhull, and the boat including a special built recoil shock absorber for rebound control.

United States atent Scarritt, Sr.

[54] HYDRACUSHION BOAT [72] Inventor: Francis M. Scarritt, Sr., 1338 Park St.

North, Saint Petersburg, Fla. 33710 [22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1970 [21] Appl.N0.: 19,824

[52] U.S.Cl. ..114/66.5R [51] Int. Cl ..B63b 1/18 (58] Field of Search ..1l4/66.5.61,66.5 F

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,483,844 12/1969 Trautwein ..115/70 [4 1 Jan. 25, 1972 6/1976 Gray ..114/61 6/1967 YOSI ..l 14/665 R Primary ExaminerAndrew H. Farrell Attorney-Zalkind, Horne & Shuster [57] ABSTRACT A water craft comprising a boat for small travel in rough water, the boat incorporating fiberglas springs for absorbing the impact of wave action, the fiberglass springs being directly attached at one end to a float and the other end to a main subhull, and the boat including a special built recoil shock absorber for rebound control.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU M25192 SHEET 1 0F 2 PATENTED M25 1972 SHEET 2 OF 2 HYDRACUSHION BOAT This invention relates generally to pleasure crafts of small type and such as are used for high-speed travel on a water surface.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide a hydracushion boat having numerous advantages over the conventional shock absorbing structure of other water craft.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydracushion boat which affords the owner a smooth and level ride in rough or choppy water by absorbing the impact of the wave action through light but sturdy fiberglas springs that are directly attached at one end to a float, and the other end to a main subhull, rebound being controlled by a special built recoil shock absorber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydracushion boat having a design that is adaptable either to a single-float small outboard, or a double-float dual outboard or special long shaft inboard outboard power.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydracushion boat wherein weight and balance can be varied depending upon the power the operator may want, by designing the spring to float point forward or back depending on the type of use.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a hydracushion boat which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through one of the hydraulic shock absorbers as viewed on line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of one of the springs,

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the craft, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the springs.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral represents a hydracushion boat according to the present invention wherein there is a main float or pontoon made of fiberglas, aluminum or marine plywood, a plurality of main support springs 12 made either of fiberglas or marine plywood.

Two springs 12 are used per float or pontoon on small boats, whereas four of the springs 12 are used on larger boats.

The reference numeral 13 represents a subhull made either of fiberglas or marine plywood and which serves as a passenger compartment. A walk-through windshield 14 made either of aluminum framing and safety glass or the equivalent, is mounted upon the subhull 13.

The present craft also includes special recoil shock absorbers 15. Aluminum eye beams 16 are molded into the fiberglas main floats and into the subhull by attaching both ends of the springs 12 thereto.

Additionally the craft includes a conventional long shaft outboard motor 17. The hydraulic shock absorber 15 has a construction equivalent to conventional shock absorbers and is a necessary component of the present craft. While one form thereof is illustrated in FIG. 2, it is to be noted that various conventional shock absorbers might be adaptable for the present boat as long as they are built of noncorrosive material. There being no moveable connections on the spring ends, the only moveable part will be the shock absorber that is attached to the springs and subhull by means of large neoprene bushings.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, an upper and lower plate 18 and 19 made of nylon impregnated butyl rubber are positioned on opposite sides of the end of the main spring 12, and are secured by means of stainless steel bolts 20. The plates 19 and 18 are then secured to an anchor plate 21 secured upon the top deck or float 11.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, it is to be noted that the subhull is illustrated for use on the twin-float design and is provided with thin or narrow projections extending down over both sides of the single-float boat as well as in between the twin-float boat.

Due to the fact that the larger percentage of weight will be in the main subhull, engines, gasoline, passengers, anchors, safety gear, bunks and the like, a very favorable ratio of sprung to unsprung weight will be obtained, this being a big factor in obtaining a smooth ride.

Other advantages of the hydracushion boat will be its complete freedom of the corrosive action of salt water, the engine both outboard and inboard being mounted in the subhull will be high enough out of the water at their pivoting point so that the complete propeller assembly can be run in much shallower water and stored high out of the water when at anchor.

The hydracushion boat will be able to navigate any given degree of rough water much faster than the conventional boat with luxury car comfort because of its wave and shock absorbing capacity.

What I now claim is:

1. In a boat having a passenger carrying hull, spring means supporting said hull from a pair of pontoons wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of main support leaf springs having one end secured to the passenger carrying hull and extending diagonally downward in a rearward direction and fixed to said pontoons.

2. In a hydracushion boat the combination of a hull for carrying passengers and engine means; pontoon means; a plurality of support springs supporting said hull on said pontoon means and each having a forward end secured to said hull and having a rearward end fixed to said pontoon means and being disposed to extend diagonally and rearwardly downward from said bull to said pontoon means.

3. In a hydracushion boat as set forth in claim 2, a plurality of shock absorbers disposed between said hull and said pontoon means for absorbing shock as said boat travels through the water. 

1. In a boat having a passenger carrying hull, spring means supporting said hull from a pair of pontoons wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of main support leaf springs having one end secured to the passenger carrying hull and extending diagonally downward in a rearward direction and fixed to said pontoons.
 2. In a hydracushion boat the combination of a hull for carrying passengers and engine means; pontoon means; a plurality of support springs supporting said hull on said pontoon means and each having a forward end secured to said hull and having a rearward end fixed to said pontoon means and being disposed to extend diagonally and rearwardly downward from said hull to said pontoon means.
 3. In a hydracushion boat as set forth in claim 2, a plurality of shock absorbers disposed between said hull and said pontoon means for absorbing shock as said boat travels through the water. 